Shirin Ebadi

Shirin Ebadi, J.D., "was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize for Peace. She received this award for her tireless efforts to promote human rights, in particular, the rights of women, children, and political prisoners in Iran. She is the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and only the fifth Muslim to receive a Nobel Prize in any field.

"Dr. Ebadi was one of the first female judges in Iran. She served as president of the city court of Tehran from 1975 to 1979 and was the first Iranian woman to achieve Chief Justice status. She, along with other women judges, was dismissed from that position after the Islamic Revolution in February 1979. She was made a clerk in the court she had once presided over, until she petitioned for early retirement. After obtaining her lawyer’s license in 1992, Dr. Ebadi set up private practice. As a lawyer, Dr. Ebadi has taken on many controversial cases defending political dissidents and as a result has been arrested numerous times.

"In addition to being an internationally-recognized advocate of human rights, she has also established many non-governmental organizations in Iran, including those for protection of children, women, and political prisoners, as well as an organization dedicated to carrying out the Land Mine Treaty.

"Dr. Ebadi is also a university professor and often students from outside Iran take part in her human rights training courses. She has published over 70 articles and 12 books dedicated to various aspects of human rights, some of which have been published by UNICEF.

"In 2004, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

"Dr. Ebadi’s latest book, Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope, was published by Random House in May 2006 in English, French and German. Its publication in 13 other languages is also underway."


 * Founder, Nobel Women's Initiative
 * Advisory Council, Points of Peace Foundation
 * Winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize

Her daughter is Nargess Tavassolian.

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